Automatic fire extinguishes



No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. HILL.

AUTOMATIC} F-IRE EXTI-NGUISHER.

N0'.283,Z {12. Patented Aug. 14, 1883.

2Sheets-Sheet2.

(No Model.)

,J. HILL.

AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHER.

No. 283,242. Patented'Aug. 14,-1883.

Wren Z07: efoZ/W/ 175 ll,

, UNIT STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN HILL, or COLUMBUS, GEORGIA.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHER.

srncrrrcn'rron forming part of Letters Patent No. 283,242, dated. August 14, 18 83. Application i iled March 1,1883. (No model.)

To .aZZ whom it may concern following is a specification.

This invention relates to automatic fire-extinguishers, and has for its, object to. provide means whereby the extinguishing-fluid, under pressure in a pipe, is automaticallyliberated by the fusing of a solder-joint, and by novel devices, distributed upon the fire. The invention has other objects, all of which willbe,

hereinafter explained.

fully described indetail, and set forth in the claims, reference being had to the accompany ing drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of fire-extinguisher constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a central vertical sectional view of the same, with the solder-joint unbroken and its valve on its seat Fig. 3, a centralvertical sectional view," with open metallic frame, preferably composed of a single piece, with a lower arm provided with an annular hub-like enlargement, N, having a female screw-threaded socket, u,{whilethe "upper arm of the frame is constructed with an automatic is provided with a port, X, of larger diameter than the upper port.

A screw-threaded plug, Y, is arranged in the socket u of the hub N, and is provided with a cavity, the lower end of which is conical to form a step or bearing, H, the upper end of the plug being flanged to form a horizontal seat, I, for receiving the divided disk 0, each partof the latter being approximately semicircular to create a central opening, as shown in Fig. 5.

ter is composed of the spindle F, having a lower conical end or point, J, and boss E, di-

l rectly under which-is provided an annular The invention consists in the construction; and combination of devices, which willbe groove or recess, D, and at or adjacent to the center of 'the spindle, is provided the cupshaped or concave disk- L, having ridges M on The combined water deflector and distributhe upper surface, which constitute the fluidfdistributer, .while the upper end of the spin-- dle 'isflat or plane, as at B, to form the fluiddeflector. The upper surfaceof the annular groove D is beveled, and the edges of the central opening of the divided disk 0 are also beveled to correspond. The deflecting end B of the spindle is arranged in the chamber of the shell R, and itsconical or pointed end J is arranged in the cavity of the plug Y, while the distributer L is located between these parts, as shown. If the spindle be lifted and the circular edges of the divided disk 0 caused to engage the annular groove D, and then soldered to the horizontal seat I of the plug Y, thedeflecting end of the spindle will be held within the port V and flush with'the upper surface of the valveseat T.

The valve A is composed of a thin circular disk of leather, rubber, or other flexible ma with the interior surface of the neck. WVhen the frame is attached to a pipe containing the fire-extinguishing fluid under pressure, the parts will be in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and obviously the pressure of the confined fluid will hold. the valve firmly and squarely upon its seat so long as the spindle remains supported by the soldered j ointthat is, the disk joined to the seat I by a fusible compound. Under ordinary conditions this joint will fuse at 160 Fahrenheit, and when such degree of heat is'reached, asin case of a conflagration, the disk 0 will become loosened on its seat, and the spindle F, thus becoming unsupported, will descend until its conical or pointed lower end reaches the step or bearing becomes liberated.

H in the plug Y. The center of the valve losing its support, the pressure of the confined fluid will collapse the valve and thrust it through the port V, the parts assuming the position shown in Fig. 3, whereby the fluid The diameter of the end B of the spindle being slightly greater than one-half the diameter of the chamber W, the

inflowing fluid will be deflected from the side of the chamber upon which the deflecting end B has fallen to the opposite side of the disdistributer L. As the quantity of fluid thus deflected strikes the elevated side of the dis tributer in greater quantity, its force causes the distributer to quickly and violently change its position and the end B to pass to the other side of the chamber W, when the water, being deflected to the other side, reverses the opertion, and so on continuously, very rapidly distributing and throwing the fluid in all directions, determined by the form of the dis tributer and its oscillations. To provide, however, for changing the oscillations of the distributer-that is to say, to rotate it in different directions upon its pivot J-the face of the .(listributer is provided with radial, spiral, and

' other ridges or grooves, M, which, by the force 7 of the water, will serve to give to the distributer a slight turn in one or the other direction, and to change the direction of its oscillations. The particular form of these ridges, grooves, or of the surface of the distributer is not material, it being only designed to break up and distribute the water in various directions. The varying angles of incidence and reflection,

\ caused by the oscillation of the distributer and the changes in direction of current by the deflector B, cause this distribution to cover a very considerable area, and is of value in the construction shown. The flexible valve may beheld to its seat by a spiral spring, as in Fig. 13,- or it may be conical, with a conical cavity, as in Fig. 10, and be retained against accidental displacement by the split ring S, as before explained, and in some instances the valve-seat T may be dispensed with, in which case the valve will be cup-shaped, and held against displacement by the split ring, as in Fig. .9. The split ring for confining the valve is preferable, as it is the most simple contrivance. Any form of valve may be used which will allow the pressure of the confined fluid to tighten the valve against its seat 011 thede fleeting end of the spindle when the latter is the fluid is upon the beveled edges of the disk c and beveled side of the groove D, and this wedging action, as soon as the solder is sufficiently melted, presses apart the two sections of the disk, and the diameter of the boss E on the spindle is sufficient to throw the sections so remote that the oscillations of the distributer will not be interfered with, even should the cooling influence of the falling fluid resolder the disk 0 to its seat.

The s'crewplug Y can be vertically adjusted in the socket a, and thus adjust the spindle with reference to the valve-seat for the valve A.

When the end B of the spindle is properly adjusted into the port V and the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a pin, 0, arranged in a vertical aperture in the frame I, can be moved downward and made to engage an aperture in the periphery of the distributer L, thus preventing any rotation of the spindle.

The extinguisher is adapted for use with water or any other fire-extinguishin g fluid orliquid compound.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- '1. In an automatic fire-extinguisher, the combination of a frame having aneck for connecting it with a pipe containing the extinguishing-fluid, a flexible valve, and a support for said valve sustained by a fusible joint, said valve being entirely unattached to the support and held to its seat by the pressure of the confined fluid, and when unsupported caused to collapse and be forced from the support and from the extinguisher by the extinguishingfluid, substantially as described.

2. A fluid deflector and distributer for automatic fire-extinguishers, composed of aspindle having a flat upper end for deflecting the fluid,

a conical or pointed lower end for permitting the spindle to oscillate, a disk intermediate the two ends of the spindle for distributing the fluid, in combination with a frame having a seat to support the spindle when oscillating, substantially as described.

3. In an automatic fireextinguisher, the

combination of a frame provided with a cham' bered shell and a step or bearing below the same, a spindle having a conical or pointed lower end, a fluid-deflecting flat upper end, and a water-distributing disk intermediate the two ends, said spindle adapted to rest on the step'or bearing, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The combination of an open frame having r 283,242 a a a chamberedshell and astep or bearing below the same, a spindle having a fluid-deflecting flat upper end located in the chamber of the shell,a conical or pointed lower end adapted to rest on the step or bearing, and a fluid-distributing disk intermediate the two ends, with a flexible valve supported by the deflecting end of the spindle and held to its seat to confine the fluid by the pressure of. the latter, and a fusible joint for sustaining the spindle, substantially as described.

5. In an automatic flre-extinguisher,'a spindle carrying at its upper end a deflector, and below the same a distributing-disk having ridges or grooves upon 1ts upper surface, said spindle being supported at its lower end, and by the liberation of theextinguishing-fluid caused to oscillate and rotate, substantially as d escribed.

6. In an automatic fireextinguisher, the combination, with the valve and the spindle having a conical or pointed lower end provided with an annular groove, of the divided disk, each section of which is provided with a beveled edge to engage the groove, said disk being soldered to its seat, and releasing the spindle when the solder melts, substantially as described. v

7. In an automatic fireextinguisher, the combination of the divided disk 0, the spindle F, having at its lower end the annular groove D, the boss E,directly above the latter, the defleeting end B, and the distributer L, between the ends, with the supporting-frame having a chambered shell, B, provided with a neck, Q, and ports V and X, and aflexible valve sup ported by the deflecting end of the spindle, and

confined on its seat by the pressure of the con- 7 'ical or pointed end J, distributer L, and de fleeting end B, with the divided ring 6, and

the flexible valve A. arranged for operationv substantially as described.

10. The combination of the frame P, having the pin 0, with the valve-supporting spindle having the distributer L, substantially as described.

11. The combination of the stem F, having an annular groove, D, and boss E, with the plug Y, having a cavity anda horizontal seat, I, and the divided soldered as described. a

12. In an automatic fire-extinguisher, the

combination, with the valve-supporting spindle F, of the valve A, and the split ring S, ar-

ranged over. the valve to retain it upon the spindle, substantially as described;

Intestimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing wit- HGSSGS.

JOHN HILL.

Witnesses: G. GUNBY JORDAN, E. P. BURNETT.

ring a, substantially. 

